Track-aligning device



D. RICH April 42 m5@ TRACK-ALIGNING DEVICE Filed July 27. 1945 c' /5 /XQ Patented Apr. 4, 195() UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACKALIGNING DEVICE David Rich, Ashland,l Wis.

`ADp1icat0nJly 27, 1945, Seal N0. 607,419

1 Claim. l.

Thisinvention relates to a railway-track aligning device, and more especially to refinements over the device disclosedin aprior LettersPatent No. 2,188,818, issued on thek 30th day of January 1940.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a railway track aligning device wherein the spanning bar is constructed with runner flanges which operate in grooves formed in the standard or shank into which the said bar is telescopically intertted and in this'manner the spanning bar is supportedy for free and smooth sliding action without frictional contact between the ratchet teeth of the spanning bar and the adjacent surfaces of the shank, the said spanning bar being manually operated'bya ratchet medium operatively engaged with the ratchet teeth.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein it involves many refinements over the subject matter of Letters Patent No. 2,188,818, issued on the 30th day of January 1940. The said device in its application to a track gives a better view thereto for the man who sights the rail as he must stand about one hundred and fifty feet (150) or so away from the man who operates the said device, and the latter does not lie over the rail and thus obstruct the View of such rail.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a liner of this character, wherein the assembly of its parts is novel and unique, it enabling greater leverage, and is possessed of maximum moving power, without liability of displacement when in a set working position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a liner of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eiicient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily operated, conveniently anchored in a set working position, giving full view to the rail, possessed of few parts, these being fully accessible, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side View of the track liner constructed in accordance with the invention and in an applied position to the work.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view 2 through the track liner and takenv on the'line'Z--Z of Figure 3.

Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 41 is a transverse vertical sectionalview taken on the lined-410i.' Figurel.

Similar Areference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referringto the drawingfin detaiLAdesignates generallytheliner or device constructed .in accordance 'with the invention andinits entirety, while B denotes the rail of a track to be operated upon thereby for theA alining of the track when required.

Theliner or .device Ali-'comprises a. main body framework, having an elongated tubiform standard or shank I0, which may be built sectional or unitary, and is of substantially square formation in cross section throughout its length.

The standard or shank l0 has formed at one end an outturned external marginal web II, which is seated in a countersunk or seat I2, in the outwardly bowed inner face of an abutting head or jaw I3, constituting the base plate of the framework, as well as an anchoring piece for the liner or device. This head or jaw I3 at the top or uppermost edge is formed with an outturned lip I4 which projects at substantially right angles thereto to function as a driving ledge, while the lowermost or bottom edge of this head or jaw creates a blunt knife blade I5, or a spiking medium, the confronting faces of the web II and the head or jaw I3 being correspondingly shaped to each other at the counterseat I2, where the said web I I is joined with the jaw by fasteners I 6.

The standard or shank I 0 interiorly thereof forms a longitudinal way for the slidable intertting therein of a spanning bar I'I, which at opposite side edges, next to its top face with lateral runner anges I8, slidably interfltting guide grooves or channels I9 formed in opposite side walls of the standard or shank. On the upper face of the spanning bar I'I in a longitudinal direction thereof and medially with relation to the runner flanges I8, are ratchet or rack teeth 20 disposed in a row. The runner flanges I8 are arranged to prevent the teeth 20 from making contact with an inner surface next thereto of the standard or shank I0, and in this manner preventing rubbing or retarding action therebetween, so that the bar will have free smooth sliding movement within such standard or shank Iii in the working of the liner or device.

The uppermost side or top face of the standard or shank I0 is formed with an elongated window or slot 2| in register with the row of teeth 20. and rising from this side or top face, medially thereof, and at opposite sides of the window or slot 2l is a double ear bearing 22, in which is horizontally pivoted at 23 for vertical rocking movements a lever 24, which is provided with a forked end 25 having pivoted therein at 26 a ratchet dog or pawl 21 for ratchet engagement with the teeth 20, so that the bar works outwardly from the standard or shank, as should be apparent, in a step-by-step manner. The dog or pawl 2'1 is formed with a laterally extended releasing hand-hold for the manual moving of the dog or pawl in releasing engagement thereof with the teeth. The other end of the lever 24 is socketed for the securing of a handle 29 thereto, so that the liner or device A can be operated manually, which is used for aligning track rails, the usable position being shown in Figure l of the drawing.

The outer end of the spanning bar I1 is provided with a fork 30 in which is pivoted at 3| a rail ball engaging hook 32, which is formed with a contact jaw 33 and underslung hook jaw 34, respectively, this being the same as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,188,818, and appears in Figure 2 of the drawing herewith. The shoe member denoted at I3 includes a base plate having an angular ange adapted to engage securely the ballast between the ties when aligning a rail B. The dog or pawl 21 plays through the window or slot 2l in the framework of the liner` or device A.

What is claimed is:

A railroad track-aligning device comprising a 3 tubiform shank composed of upper and lower sections detachably connected together, the lower section being substantially U-shape in cross section, said upper and lower sections at their meeting edges being extended outwardly to form opposed longitudinal grooves, a base plate secured to and closing one end of said shank, a spanning bar slidably mounted in the lower section of said shank having longitudinal runner flanges on opposite sides adjacent its upper face adapted to slidably intert in the grooves of the shank, ratchet teeth on the upper face of said spanning bar, a rail engaging hook pivotally connected to the outer end of said spanning bar, a double lug bearing formed integral with the upper section of the shank adjacent the base plate, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end in said bearing, a pawl pivotally connected to the lower free end of said lever adapted to move in a longitudinal slot in the upper section of said shank and operatively engage said ratchet teeth to move said spanning bar longitudinally of the shank and a web bridging the lugs of said bearing in the path of movement of the lower free end of said lever to limit the forward movement of said lever and backward movement of said pawl.

DAVID RICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 558,881 Robinson Apr. 21, 1896 827,491 Wulff et al July 31, 1906 2,188,818 Rich Dec. 2, 1938 

